2008 Porsche 911 (997.1) Turbo Cabriolet

• A UK-supplied, right-hand drive phase 1.5 model with PSM, 6-speed Tiptronic S and permanent 4WD system. Just 29,300 miles
• 3.6-litre twin-turbocharged Mezger flat-six producing 480bhp and 457lb.ft of torque
• Finished in striking Marine Blue Metallic with a black leather interior
• Rare addition of carbon fibre-shelled Sport seats, an ú8,000 option when the car was new
• Sports Chrono package and original 19-inch multi-spoke, diamond-cut alloy wheels
• FSH with Porsche and specialists. Last serviced on the 29/08/2019 at 28,102 miles
• Original handbooks, stamped service history and supporting invoices, as well as two keys
• One of the fastest convertible cars in the world at the time - a very civilised supercar
• N.B. The registration number illustrated XXX 5 does not form part of the sale; registration will revert to P9 RAU

The Porsche 911 needs little in the way of introduction and the signature model of the road car line-up has, since 1975, always been the Turbo. When it first appeared, the 911 Turbo was something to be feared. Drivers clung on to this fearsome thing, its 258bhp making it one of the quickest production cars on sale. Each successive generation saw the 911 Turbo become more powerful and better resolved. By the time the water-cooled '996' generation car appeared in 1999, the Turbo had become genuinely civilised, rocket ship fast but civilised, nonetheless.

The '997' generation 911 was an evolution of the 996 with many changes designed to improve quality while retaining that car's winning blend of performance and usability. Although the 911 (997) Carrera models appeared in 2004, it wasn't until 2006 that the Turbo version was launched. First shown at that year's Geneva Show, it was initially offered as a coupe (and later as a cabriolet) with an impressive specification. The Mezger 3.6-litre engine was continued, now producing 480bhp at 6,000 rpm and featuring VarioCam Plus and a pair of clever Borg-Warner variable geometry turbochargers - a totally new technology for Porsche. Power is transmitted to all four wheels with Porsche Traction Management (PTM) which uses an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch. This intelligent technology provides variable drive to each axle. The front/rear split is continuously adjusted based on current road conditions and driver inputs and although biased towards the rear, the front receives more power whenever the situation requires.

The car presented here is a UK-supplied, right-hand drive, 2008 Porsche 911 (997) Turbo Cabriolet Generation I - which, importantly, means it utilises the well-proven and legendary 'Mezger' race-derived engine, which has a reputation for being bulletproof and doesn't suffer the same potential faults as the engine found in 997 Carreras or the later 997 Turbo Gen ll cars (launched in September 2009).

This is an attractive and well-maintained example of this timeless performance icon. The 3.6-litre, twin-turbocharged flat-six produces 480bhp and 457lb-ft of torque and, transmitting this power to the road, is a permanent four-wheel-drive system and six-speed Tiptronic S transmission. Upon its launch in September 2007, the 997.1 Turbo Cabriolet became one of the fastest convertible cars in the world, with performance figures almost identical to those of the Coupe.

First registered on 21 October 2008, the car has covered just over 29,000 miles. The Porsche wears its original Marine Blue metallic paint and benefits from full paint protection, having been applied in January this year at a cost of ú2,500. The finish retains a deep metallic sparkle, with the only blemishes of note minor 'road rash' to the sills behind the front wheels and ahead of the rear wheels.

The electrically-powered, black soft top fits tightly to the frame when closed and is in as-new condition with no damage or fraying to the material. The car benefits from the rare addition of the 'carbon fibre seat package', which the vendor mentions was an ú8,000 option when the car was new. These carbon fibre-shelled bucket seats are in excellent condition - with seatbelts colour-coded to match the car's exterior finish - with only light signs of usage on the driver's side bolsters.

This model also benefits from the optional Sport Chrono package, as well as an inbuilt Porsche 'Infotainment' system with AUX/USB/iPod capability and dual-zone climate control, making it an attractive proposition for long summer road trips.

This 911 Turbo's last service was carried out on 29 August 2019 at 28,102 miles by Dove House Motor Company. This was an intermediate service, including replacement of the spark plugs and brake fluid, as well as engine oils and filters and. in addition, the drive belt was checked for any signs of damage. Prior to this, the last services were undertaken on 9 July 2017 and 28 January 2015, with the cambelt replaced at the latter service.

The most recent MOT test was on 31 March 2020 at 28,454 miles. This, like every MOT the 911 has faced to date, resulted in a first-time pass. In this year's case, there were no advisories. It wears matching Michelin Pilot Sport tyres all round and these are in useable condition with approximately 3mm of tread remaining.

This elegant Turbo convertible will be supplied to its next owner with its original handbooks, stamped service history and supporting invoices, as well as both keys.

Combining low mileage and a desirable specification, this 911 Turbo Cabriolet is an excellent example of the marque's high-performance everyday supercar. While it is in good enough order to be exhibited at shows or become part of a collection, it has the breadth of capability and exhilarating nature required to be used as a summer road trip car or weekend B-road toy.

Summary of service history:

18/08/10: 5,310 miles

13/09/12: 8,525 miles

28/01/15: 15,778 miles

08/02/16: 18,400 miles

07/07/17: 21,434 miles

28/08/19: 28,102 miles